Quotes & Sayings


We, and creation itself, actualize the possibilities of the God who sustains the world, towards becoming in the world in a fuller, more deeper way. - R.E. Slater

There is urgency in coming to see the world as a web of interrelated processes of which we are integral parts, so that all of our choices and actions have [consequential effects upon] the world around us. - Process Metaphysician Alfred North Whitehead

Kurt Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem says (i) all closed systems are unprovable within themselves and, that (ii) all open systems are rightly understood as incomplete. - R.E. Slater

The most true thing about you is what God has said to you in Christ, "You are My Beloved." - Tripp Fuller

The God among us is the God who refuses to be God without us, so great is God's Love. - Tripp Fuller

According to some Christian outlooks we were made for another world. Perhaps, rather, we were made for this world to recreate, reclaim, redeem, and renew unto God's future aspiration by the power of His Spirit. - R.E. Slater

Our eschatological ethos is to love. To stand with those who are oppressed. To stand against those who are oppressing. It is that simple. Love is our only calling and Christian Hope. - R.E. Slater

Secularization theory has been massively falsified. We don't live in an age of secularity. We live in an age of explosive, pervasive religiosity... an age of religious pluralism. - Peter L. Berger

Exploring the edge of life and faith in a post-everything world. - Todd Littleton

I don't need another reason to believe, your love is all around for me to see. – Anon

Thou art our need; and in giving us more of thyself thou givest us all. - Khalil Gibran, Prayer XXIII

Be careful what you pretend to be. You become what you pretend to be. - Kurt Vonnegut

Religious beliefs, far from being primary, are often shaped and adjusted by our social goals. - Jim Forest

We become who we are by what we believe and can justify. - R.E. Slater

People, even more than things, need to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. – Anon

Certainly, God's love has made fools of us all. - R.E. Slater

An apocalyptic Christian faith doesn't wait for Jesus to come, but for Jesus to become in our midst. - R.E. Slater

Christian belief in God begins with the cross and resurrection of Jesus, not with rational apologetics. - Eberhard Jüngel, Jürgen Moltmann

Our knowledge of God is through the 'I-Thou' encounter, not in finding God at the end of a syllogism or argument. There is a grave danger in any Christian treatment of God as an object. The God of Jesus Christ and Scripture is irreducibly subject and never made as an object, a force, a power, or a principle that can be manipulated. - Emil Brunner

“Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh” means "I will be that who I have yet to become." - God (Ex 3.14) or, conversely, “I AM who I AM Becoming.”

Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. - Thomas Merton

The church is God's world-changing social experiment of bringing unlikes and differents to the Eucharist/Communion table to share life with one another as a new kind of family. When this happens, we show to the world what love, justice, peace, reconciliation, and life together is designed by God to be. The church is God's show-and-tell for the world to see how God wants us to live as a blended, global, polypluralistic family united with one will, by one Lord, and baptized by one Spirit. – Anon

The cross that is planted at the heart of the history of the world cannot be uprooted. - Jacques Ellul

The Unity in whose loving presence the universe unfolds is inside each person as a call to welcome the stranger, protect animals and the earth, respect the dignity of each person, think new thoughts, and help bring about ecological civilizations. - John Cobb & Farhan A. Shah

If you board the wrong train it is of no use running along the corridors of the train in the other direction. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

God's justice is restorative rather than punitive; His discipline is merciful rather than punishing; His power is made perfect in weakness; and His grace is sufficient for all. – Anon

Our little [biblical] systems have their day; they have their day and cease to be. They are but broken lights of Thee, and Thou, O God art more than they. - Alfred Lord Tennyson

We can’t control God; God is uncontrollable. God can’t control us; God’s love is uncontrolling! - Thomas Jay Oord

Life in perspective but always in process... as we are relational beings in process to one another, so life events are in process in relation to each event... as God is to Self, is to world, is to us... like Father, like sons and daughters, like events... life in process yet always in perspective. - R.E. Slater

To promote societal transition to sustainable ways of living and a global society founded on a shared ethical framework which includes respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, universal human rights, respect for diversity, economic justice, democracy, and a culture of peace. - The Earth Charter Mission Statement

Christian humanism is the belief that human freedom, individual conscience, and unencumbered rational inquiry are compatible with the practice of Christianity or even intrinsic in its doctrine. It represents a philosophical union of Christian faith and classical humanist principles. - Scott Postma

It is never wise to have a self-appointed religious institution determine a nation's moral code. The opportunities for moral compromise and failure are high; the moral codes and creeds assuredly racist, discriminatory, or subjectively and religiously defined; and the pronouncement of inhumanitarian political objectives quite predictable. - R.E. Slater

God's love must both center and define the Christian faith and all religious or human faiths seeking human and ecological balance in worlds of subtraction, harm, tragedy, and evil. - R.E. Slater

In Whitehead’s process ontology, we can think of the experiential ground of reality as an eternal pulse whereby what is objectively public in one moment becomes subjectively prehended in the next, and whereby the subject that emerges from its feelings then perishes into public expression as an object (or “superject”) aiming for novelty. There is a rhythm of Being between object and subject, not an ontological division. This rhythm powers the creative growth of the universe from one occasion of experience to the next. This is the Whiteheadian mantra: “The many become one and are increased by one.” - Matthew Segall

Without Love there is no Truth. And True Truth is always Loving. There is no dichotomy between these terms but only seamless integration. This is the premier centering focus of a Processual Theology of Love. - R.E. Slater

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Note: Generally I do not respond to commentary. I may read the comments but wish to reserve my time to write (or write off the comments I read). Instead, I'd like to see our community help one another and in the helping encourage and exhort each of us towards Christian love in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. - re slater

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Shane Hipps - Collections of Past Teachings from Mars Hill Church

Several years ago Shane Hipps was the adjunct preacher at Mars Hill and during that time preached from the pulpit and around the country. Below is a collection of his sermons which I think should not be hidden away but made open to those thirsty for God and His Word.

 On this blog page you will find many of Shane's sermons. By clicking on the pictures below you will be taken to his website for further instructions for that particular topic. By clicking the "teaching" label on the top or bottom menu bars you may go to the full collection of his sermons. Many of Shane's sermons are free (the ones without pictures) but some (with pictures) will require a small donation. Enjoy.

 R.E. Slater
February 8, 2014

 Shane's Website - http://shanehipps.com/category/teaching/sermons/

 Where in the World is Shane Hipps? - Life After Mars Hill
  • The One Before the Zero
    Daniel 6
    08/19/2012
  • A Contest of Champions
    1 Samuel 17
    08/05/2012
  • Stay in the Boat
    Genesis 6-8
    07/01/2012
  • Broken Chains
    Acts 16:25-40
    06/17/2012
  • Falling Together
    Acts 16:16-24
    06/10/2012
  • Pass the Peace
    Acts 15
    05/15/2012
  • More Gardeners
    Acts 15
    05/06/2012
  • From Tomb to Womb
    04/08/2012
  • Nothing is Wasted
    Ruth 4:11-22
    04/01/2012
  • 8 Mile and the Shadow
    03/04/2012
  • The Fire Inside
    Daniel 3
    02/26/2012
  • Drop By Drop
    Acts 12
    02/05/2012
  • A Vision
    Acts 10 & 11
    01/15/2012
  • A New Day
    Acts 9
    01/01/2012
  • The Cry of Christmas
    Luke 2:1-7
    12/25/2011
  • Accepting the Gift
    Acts 8:26-40
    12/11/2011
  • Thin Ice and the Spear
    Acts 7
    11/29/2011
  • Anonymous Feet
    Acts 4:5-20
    10/30/2011
  • Return to the Bubble Maker
    Acts 3:17-21
    10/23/2011
  • Miracles and Maple Trees
    Acts 3:1-10
    10/16/2011
  • Look to the East
    Acts 1:21
    09/18/2011
  • Real Simple
    1 John 5:13-21
    09/04/2011
  • Love Makes it Easy
    1 John 5:1-5
    08/21/2011
  • The Dune is Heavy
    1 John 4:7-10
    08/07/2011
  • Knowing is the Flame
    1 John 3:18-24
    07/24/2011
  • The Seed
    1 John 3:4-10
    07/10/2011
  • Beyond Belief
    1 John 2:18-25
    06/19/2011
  • The Art of Abiding
    1 John 2:15-17
    06/12/2011
  • Spoiling the Illusion
    1 John 1:5-10
    05/08/2011
  • Beneath the Waves
    1 John 1:1-4
    05/01/2011
  • Resurrection
    04/24/2011
  • Fool’s Gold
    Revelation 3:4-22
    04/10/2011
  • Lighting the Wick
    Revelation 2:8-11
    03/20/2011
  • Before the Bowl Breaks
    Ecclesiastes 12:1-7
    03/06/2011
  • Puppies & Prostitutes
    Ecclesiastes 9:4-10
    02/06/2011
  • Your Destiny
    Ecclesiastes 7:1-2
    01/23/2011
  • The Eternal Now
    Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
    01/16/2011
  • The Hidden Announcement
    Luke 2:1-20
    12/26/2010
  • Overwhelming Joy
    2 Corinthians 8:1-4
    12/12/2010
  • The Humble Kingdom
    Matthew 13:51-52
    11/21/2010
  • Returning to the Field
    Matthew 22:1-14
    11/07/2010
  • The Alarm Clock
    Matthew 13:44
    10/31/2010
  • Within You
    Matthew 13:31-35
    10/17/2010
  • Living Dirt
    Ezekiel 34:1-14
    10/03/2010
  • Lantern
    Ezekiel 34:25-31
    09/12/2010
  • Clay Hearts
    Ezekiel 11:14-19
    09/05/2010
  • Outside the Boat
    Matthew 14:22-27
    08/15/2010
  • Touching the Stove
    1 John 4:18
    08/08/2010
  • A Scorpion and the Egg
    Luke 11:1-13
    07/25/2010
  • The Deeper Desire
    07/18/2010
  • Wiffle Guitar
    06/27/2010
  • The Bud Before the Blossom
    06/13/2010
  • Uncaging the Lion
    06/06/2010
  • The One Constant Thing
    05/30/2010
  • Plane and Pine Together
    05/16/2010
  • From the Belly
    John 7:37-38
    04/18/2010
  • Stay Thirsty
    John 4:1-26
    04/11/2010
  • Troubling Love
    Jonah 4:1-4
    03/21/2010
  • When God Repents
    Jonah 3:1-10
    03/14/2010
  • God in Ninevah
    Jonah 1:1-3
    02/21/2010
  • A Farewell
    1 Corinthians 3:4-11
    02/14/2010
  • What is Eternal Life?
    John 17:1-5
    01/31/2010
  • Binding the World
    John 16:32-33
    01/24/2010
  • Calling
    01/17/2010
  • The Infinite Friendship
    John 15:12-15
    01/03/2010
  • Growing Joy
    John 15:1-11
    12/20/2009
  • Relationship Not Religion
    John 14:6
    12/13/2009
  • Wet Feet
    John 13:1-10
    11/29/2009
  • Hate Your Soul
    John 12:25
    11/22/2009
  • Lots of Life
    John 10:10
    11/15/2009
  • Sheep on the Move
    John 10:1-10
    11/01/2009
  • Beyond the Map
    John 9:24
    10/25/2009
  • Mud and Meaning
    John 9:1-7
    10/11/2009
  • A Story of Calling
    10/04/2009
  • Creative Mud
    John 9:1-7
    09/13/2009
  • Set Free
    John 8:1-11
    09/06/2009
  • Between the Dirt
    John 8:1-11
    08/16/2009
  • Still Thirsty
    John 7:37-38
    08/09/2009
  • A Gentle Stillness
    07/12/2009
  • Dining with the Groom
    07/05/2009
  • Red Bull
    John 6:53
    06/21/2009
  • Off Menu
    John 6:22-66
    06/07/2009
  • Do You Want It?
    John 5:1-10
    05/31/2009
  • The Right Tool
    John 4:31-34
    05/24/2009
  • Dignity
    John 4:4-9
    05/10/2009
  • Beyond Boundaries
    John 4:20-24
    05/03/2009
  • Thirsty
    John 4:1-26
    04/26/2009
  • Ecstasy
    04/12/2009
  • Dead Man Riding
    Mark 11:1-10
    04/05/2009
  • Free Spirit
    John 3:1-8
    03/15/2009
  • Born Above
    John 3:1-8
    03/08/2009
  • Stolen Trademark
    John 2:1-11
    03/01/2009
  • We Don’t Need Roads
    John 2:1-11
    02/22/2009
  • Jesus Economics
    John 2:1-11
    02/08/2009
  • Come and See
    John 1:45
    02/01/2009
  • What Do You Want?
    John 1:35
    01/18/2009
  • Community, Part Two
    01/11/2009
  • Community, Part One
    01/04/2009
  • Christmas Tangerines
    Luke 1:46-56
    12/21/2008
  • Princess of Peace
    Luke 1:39-45
    12/14/2008
  • Flowers Fade
    Isaiah 40:6-7
    12/07/2008
  • God’s Skin
    John 1:14
    11/23/2008
  • Pregnant Dad
    John 1:12, 18
    11/02/2008
  • Weak Shadows
    John 1:5
    10/26/2008
  • Enlightenment
    John 1:6-9
    10/19/2008
  • Wind in the Sails
    John 1:1-5
    10/05/2008
  • Bound Free
    Matthew 18:18
    09/28/2008
  • 490
    Matthew 18:21-22
    09/14/2008
  • Against You
    Matthew 18:15-20
    09/07/2008
  • Corrective Lenses
    Revelation 22:1-2
    08/17/2008
  • Get Rich Quick
    2 Corinthians 9:6-7
    08/10/2008
  • A Disappointing Idol
    2 Samuel 11
    07/13/2008
  • Stop Depriving Us
    1 Samuel 24
    07/06/2008
  • Cat’s Don’t Bark
    1 Samuel 18
    06/29/2008
  • The Magic Eye
    1 Samuel 17:51-58
    06/22/2008
  • Glimmer of God
    1 Samuel 17:42-47
    06/08/2008
  • Cunning Hero
    1 Samuel 17:23-29
    06/01/2008
  • Goliath on Immigration
    1 Samuel 17
    05/25/2008
  • Spirit of Envy
    1 Samuel 16:15-23
    05/18/2008
  • The Ordinary Origin
    1 Samuel 16:10-11
    04/27/2008
  • Lookin’ Good David
    1 Samuel 16:11-12
    04/20/2008
  • Involution
    1 Samuel 16:7
    04/13/2008
  • In Defense of Mud Wrestling
    1 Samuel 16:1-13
    04/06/2008
  • Spirituality of the Cell Phone
    03/30/2008
  • God Incognito
    John 20:1-18
    03/23/2008
  • Of
    Romans 8:5-6
    03/09/2008
  • Shedding the Swaddle
    John 9:1-7
    03/02/2008
  • Why Us?
    Exodus 17:1-7
    02/24/2008
  • A Sleepless God
    Psalm 121
    02/17/2008
  • Rising
    Matthew 13:31-33
    01/20/2008
  • A Beautiful Smolder
    Isaiah 42:1-4
    01/13/2008
  • River of Awe
    Isaiah 60:1-6
    01/06/2008
  • With
    Matthew 1:18-25
    12/23/2007
  • Jesus’ Resume
    Matthew 11:2-11
    12/16/2007
  • Impending Dawn
    Romans 13:11-14
    12/02/2007
  • Rekindling the Gift
    2 Timothy 1:4-7
    11/25/2007
  • Kissing the Dust
    Lamentations 3
    11/18/2007
  • Deserted Places
    Mark 1:35
    10/28/2007
  • Save the Doves
    Mark 11:15-18
    10/07/2007
  • The Future of Community
    09/25/2007
  • Natives and Immigrants
    09/16/2007
  • Another Adolescence
    2 Kings 5:15-19
    09/09/2007
  • Naaman Remixed
    2 Kings 5:1-14
    09/02/2007
  • Rejected from Hogwarts
    2 Kings 5:1-14
    08/19/2007
  • The Importance of Tube Socks
    2 Kings 6:1-7
    08/12/2007
  • Don’t Call Me Baldy
    2 Kings 2:19-25
    08/05/2007
  • Boat House Jump
    1 Kings 19:19-21
    07/15/2007
  • White Noise
    1 Kings 19:10-18
    07/01/2007
  • Stone Baked Bread
    1 Kings 19:1-9
    06/24/2007
  • Soft Drink gods
    1 Kings 18:20-39
    06/17/2007
  • Dizzy in Right Field
    1 Kings 17:6-16
    06/10/2007
  • Melted Ice Cream
    Mark 10:13-16
    05/27/2007
  • A Beautiful Reflection
    2 Corinthians 8:7
    05/06/2007
  • Curing Affluenza
    Leviticus 27:30
    04/29/2007
  • Questioning Faith
    Genesis 18:20-33
    04/15/2007
  • God’s Womb
    John 21:10-14
    04/08/2007
  • Conflicted
    Luke 19
    04/01/2007
  • Forgotten
    Isaiah 43:16-19
    03/25/2007
  • Settled
    Isaiah 55:1-7
    03/11/2007
  • Distracted
    Luke 4:1-4
    02/25/2007
  • Urban God
    Revelation 21:20-22
    02/18/2007
  • Reverse Rapture
    Revelation 21:1-5
    02/04/2007
  • Woe
    Revelation 16:1-9
    01/21/2007
  • The New Exodus
    Revelation 8:13
    01/14/2007
  • Nike Worship
    Revelation 12:7-11
    01/07/2007
  • A Kingdom Kicking
    Luke 1:38-45
    12/24/2006
  • God Soap
    Malachi 3:1-4
    12/10/2006
  • Nearing Redemption
    Luke 21:25-28
    12/03/2006
  • Blessed Are the Guilt-Ridden
    Colossians 3:15-17
    11/26/2006
  • Blood Bath
    Revelation 7:9-17
    11/12/2006
  • Changing lenses
    Revelation 6:1-7
    11/05/2006
  • Pleasant Poverty
    Revelation 3:14-22
    10/22/2006
  • Revisiting the Rapture
    Revelation 1:1-3
    10/15/2006
  • Imagining Our Future
    10/08/2006
  • The Alternative Community
    Colossians 3:12-17
    09/17/2006
  • Double Edged Cross
    Colossians 2:6-15
    09/10/2006
  • Paul’s Plagiarism
    Colossians 1:15-20
    09/03/2006
  • Gospel Politics
    Colossians 1:3-6
    08/27/2006
  • Ego Eimi
    John 6:14-21
    07/30/2006
  • The Headless Harbinger
    Mark 6:14-29
    07/16/2006
  • Open Heart Conflict
    2 Corinthians 6:1-13
    06/25/2006
  • The Return of the King
    Isaiah 6:1-13
    06/11/2006
  • The Gasp of Skeletons
    Ezekiel 37
    06/04/2006
  • Clash of the Titans
    Gen 1:1-5
    05/28/2006
  • Undeserving Enemies
    Acts 3
    05/21/2006
  • The Grace of Giving
    2 Corinthians 8:7
    04/30/2006
  • Go with the Grain
    John 12:20-25
    04/16/2006
  • A Forgetful God
    Jeremiah 31:31-34
    04/02/2006
  • Jesus the Serpent
    John 3:14-18
    03/26/2006
  • Following a Fool
    1 Corinthians 1:18-25
    03/19/2006
  • Driven into Wilderness
    Mark 1:9-13
    03/05/2006
  • The Keystone Congregation
    Exodus 25
    02/19/2006
  • Body Worship
    Romans 12:1
    02/12/2006
  • Secret Cents
    Matthew 6:19-21
    02/05/2006
  • Time Warped
    Psalm 46:10
    01/22/2006
  • Generous Spirit
    1 Corinthians 12:4-11
    01/15/2006
  • Third-Way Faith
    01/08/2006
  • Press Pause
    Isaiah 40:3-5
    12/04/2005
  • God Unexpected
    Isaiah 64:1-9
    11/27/2005
  • The Sacred Rhythm
    Psalm 22
    11/20/2005
  • The Spirituality of Justice
    Psalm 5
    11/05/2005
  • Healing the Sick
    James 5:13-16
    10/30/2005
  • Submitting to God
    James 4:7-10
    10/30/2005
  • The Cry of the Soul
    Psalm 88
    09/11/2005
  • Between Despair and Hope
    Deuteronomy 31:7-8
    08/28/2005

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What are Biblical Geneologies and What Do They Do?



what are biblical genealogies and what do they do?
(guest series by Denis Lamoureux)
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/peterenns/2014/02/what-are-biblical-genealogies-and-what-do-they-do-guest-series-by-denis-lamoureux/

by Peter Enns
February 4, 2014
Comments

Today we begin a 6-part audio-slide series by Denis Lamoureux on the always gripping, never boring, live-changing topic of all those “begats” in the Bible, a.k.a., biblical genealogies.

Stop rolling your eyes.

Actually, in my experience, genealogies–what they are and how they function in the Bible–is about as commonly misunderstood as any biblical genre.

As Lamoureux puts it, “Most Christians assume that genealogies in the Bible are merely lists of related family members quite similar to genealogies today. However, in the ancient world the primary purpose of a genealogy was to offer an important message about the community or nation.

In this series of episodes we will look at various genealogies in Scripture, and then come to a conclusion regarding why Adam appears in the biblical genealogies found in Genesis 5, 1 Chronicles, and Luke 3.”

The series is as follows. To view part 1, click "Introduction" below and so forth.
  1. Introduction (9 mins)
  2. Genealogies of Jesus in Matthew 1 & Luke 3 (10 mins)
  3. Sumerian Kings List (9 mins)
  4. Hebrew Patriarchs in Genesis 5 & 11  (11 mins)
  5. Adam & the Biblical Genealogies (22 mins)
  6. Conclusion (9 mins)

Lamoureux holds three earned doctoral degrees (dentistry, theology, and biology) and is associate professor of science and religion at St. Joseph’s College in the University of Alberta (full bio here). He is the author of I Love Jesus & I Accept Evolution (see first of the audio slide series on this book here) which is a great introduction to his view of origins called “evolutionary creation.”


~ click to enlarge where needed ~























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Friday, February 7, 2014

Network Thinking: Process Theology and the Intuitive Mind





RSA Animate - The Power of Networks


More Vids on The Power of Networks



Network Thinking:
Process Theology and the Intuitive Mind

by Jay McDaniel

Networks of Meaning

One time my oldest son went to hear a lecture by a gifted musician. He enjoyed the lecture very much, but he wasn't sure he could rehearse its thesis.

As he was leaving he said to a professor: "I don't think I can restate his thesis or his line of argumentation." The professor said: "He wasn't offering a single line of argumentation, he was displaying networks of meaning."

What can it mean to think in terms of networks of meaning? In the video "Manuel Lima senior UX design lead at Microsoft Bing, explores the power of network visualisation to help navigate our complex modern world." RSA (Royal Society of the Arts) offers these videos free: <http://comment.rsablogs.org.uk/videos/>.

To get a sense of network thinking, consider a rhizome. According to the RSA animate, it is "an acentered non-hierarchical, non-signifying system without a general organizing memory or central automaton, defined solely by a circulation of states."

When we enter into network thinking, we begin to think rhizomatically.




A Metaphysics for Network Thinking

Among 20th century philosophers, Alfred North Whitehead offers a metaphysical perspective that supports network thinking. In Process and Reality: An Essay in Cosmology, he presents the universe as a seamless web of interconnected events and proposes that even the inclusive "mind" of the universe, even God Himself, is relational.

 He suggests that every individual node in the web of life, whether on our planet or in any other sphere of existence, is intimately entangled with every other node in the web, which means that individuals are not self-contained substances but rather outcomes of, and contributors to, the larger web.

Thus he rejects the view that individual entities have single causes. Any event that occurs in our world, from a single act of human decision-making to a galactic explosion in outer space, emerges out of an infinitely complex past and adds to an infinitely complex future: "The many become one and are increased by one."

You can learn more about Whiteheadian thinking by going to the website of theCenter for Process Studies: http://www.ctr4process.org/.




Process Theology

Process theologians build upon his perspective to develop unique forms of theology that encourage network thinking. Many are Christian, but some are Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Bahai. You can learn more about the religious side of the process perspective by going to the Process and Faith website: http://processandfaith.org/.

Not all process theologians are theistic. Some find ultimacy in the sheer interconnectedness of things. But theistic process theologians build upon Whitehead's understanding of God to develop a relational theology. For them God is personal and filled with empathy and intelligence. God is the unfolding "Network" within whose life the universe unfolds.

We cannot picture this Network by means of a map, but we can feel the presence of the Network within our own lives as a lure toward wisdom, compassion, and creativity. And we can trust that the Network somehow embraces all of us with an arc of love. This trust is what process theologians call faith.


The Interconnected Universe

Manuel Lima draws upon the work of Warren Weaver to suggest that science has gone through three phases. From the 17th century to the early 20th century, it was concerned with how one entity influences another. In the early and middle of the 20th century it turned its attention to the reality of random occurences, thus giving rise to a science of chaos. And then, in the latter part of the twentieth century it has turned its attention to the reality of organized complexity and self-organizing wholes. He believes that network thinking is more appropriate to organized complexity than earlier forms of thinking concerned with single causes.


Logic both Rational and Mystical

As I shared his talk with a friend, my friend said: "Oh, I do not have to think logically anymore." But we quickly realized that Lima was introducing the idea of a new kind of logic that sees things in terms of dynamic gestalts and circulatory states, that is at home with non-hierarchical approaches to life, that does not see things as reaching closure because things keep circulating, that is sensitive to the absolute interconnectedness of all things.

This new logic can seem mystical in its own way. At least it is non-linear. Linear forms of thinking think in terms of discrete and relatively self-contained entities which can be defined apart from their connections with others, and which are moved by other discrete and relatively self-contained entities.

Network logic can seem non-rational because it is non-linear. However, it might better be called another kind of reasoning, ["a-symmetrical?"], perhaps tapping into a different part of the brain.


The Intuitive Mind

What part of the brain? The question is problematic because the brain is a network, too. Still, the brain is asymmetrical and divided between two hemispheres. In the RSA video at the bottom of this page, the renowned psychiatrist and writer Iain McGilchrist proposes that there is value in honoring two kinds of mind: the intuitive mind of the right hemisphere and the more controlling mind of the left hemisphere. He thinks that society today has fallen too swiftly into a valorization of the controlling mind at the expense of the intuitive mind. Perhaps network thinking has a logic of its own, but perhaps its logic is more intuitive than linear. Call it intuitive reason as opposed to controlling reason.


Linear Thinking is Good, Too

McGilchrist calls for a healthy synthesis of the two kinds of mind. In this respect he is very much like those of us influenced by Whitehead. He is passionate about reason and the careful use of language, but also passionate the intuitive mind. Those of us influenced by Whitehead are as well. If a new and more rhizomatic paradigm for thinking is emerging in the 21st century, and if it is more appropriate for certain circumstances; it is also the case that linear thinking is appropriate for other circumstances.

Whitehead was a philosopher and also a mathematician. He knew the pleasures of a linearly-ordered argument and a well-crafted piece of prose. He knew they had cognitive value. Let us hope that our engineers can think in linear terms; let us hope that our attorneys can develop clear, well-formulated arguments for defending the poor.
Multiple Intelligence Theory

Whitehead's philosophy lends itself to an appreciation of multiple forms of intelligence: mathematical-logical, verbal-linguistic, visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalistic, existential. Linear thinking is a combination of mathematical-logical and verbal-linguistic. I borrow the idea from the Harvard educational theorist, Howard Gardner: www.howardgardner.com.

Network thinking adds a strong visual-spatial component and finds value in the other forms. The problem of the 21st century does not lie in its appreciation of verbal-linguistic and mathematical-logical, but rather in its valorization of these two forms of intelligence as the only forms worth appreciating, and in its neglect of other forms of intelligence. When only two forms of intelligence are valorized, the others are repressed.

Sometimes even verbal-linguistic intelligence is reduced to simple-minded clarity, neglectful of the cognitive value of more poetic and multivalent uses of language. Even when it comes to verbal wisdom, there can be wisdom in vagueness: that is, in not being able to make definitive determinations of meaning. The wisdom of much poetry lies in this undecidability.

Undecidability makes room for more spacious orientation toward life, a sense of having a bigger picture of things, albeit without a frame. For process theologians, a willingness not to place everything inside a mental frame of our own making -- and not to hypostasize a particular region of mental space in which God resides -- is the very heart of faith.

The faith at issue is not firm belief but rather as trust in the availability of fresh possibilities. It is not controlling or acquisitive. It is not adaptive and flexible and free. It has its own rhizomatic beauty. Perhaps faith is a transition from left to right hemisphere and then a return to balanced creativity. Let Iain McGilchrist make the case.


RSA Animate - The Divided Brain



Index to past discussions -
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